Automatic feed for power-shears.



c. A. BBRTSOH. AUTOMATIC FEED FOR POWER SHEARS.

"APPLICATION FILED JULY 20, 1911.

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AUTOMATIC FEED FOR POWER SHEARS.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 20, 1911.

1,066,577. Patented July 8,1913.

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G. A. BERTSCH.

AUTOMATIC FEED FOR POWER SHEARS.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 20, 1811.

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G. A. BERTSCH.

AUTOMATIC FEED FOR POWER SHEARS.

APPLICATION nun JULY 20, 1911. 1,066,577, Patented July 8, 1913.

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COLUMBIA PLANOCIRAFH Gil-.WMHINOTON. b. c.

NIT S CHARLES A. BERTSCI-I, 0F CAMBRIDGE CITY, INDIANA.

AUTOMATIC FEED FOR POWER-SHEARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 1913.

Application filed July 20, 1911. Serial No. 639,555.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Cnannns A. Bnirrstui, a citizen of the United States, residing in Cambridge City, in the county of Wayne, and in the State of Indiana, have invented an Automatic Feed for Power-Shears, of which the following a full and accurate specification and exposition, being such as will enable others to make and use the same with absolute exactitude.

The particular in'iprovements which I desire protected and which form the basis of this present application are the means for antoinatieally feeding the sheets of metal to the cutting blades step-by-step and with absolute precision to be formed into predetermined lengths or widths; the mechanisms being adapted to hold the material while it is being cut; and having means whereby the length of feed may be adjusted as desired within certain limits.

The object of my invention, briefly stated, is to provide the above mentioned features, all combined and included into a machine which will be strong and durable in construction, positive in action, easily operated and controlled, and which can be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low price.

Other particular objects and advantages of my invention will be brought out and made clear, to any one familiar with such machines, in the course of the following; specification, and that which is new will be correlated in the appended claims.

The preferred manner for carrying out my invention in a practical manner is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of a machine showing my invention in connection therewith. Fig. 2 a front elevation of the machine, the same being partly in section, and also partly broken away to show other parts. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation as taken on line 21l-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail, plan view of one end of the machine, sl'iowing a portion of the table and the adjaeent parts. Fin. 5 is a side elevation of the machine partly broken away to show other parts. Fig. 6 is a detail, showing a perspective view of one of the guideblocks. Fig. 7 is a detail view showing; a portion of the T-bar forming the upper member of the feeding clamp. Fig. 8 is an isomctrical view of a portion of the plate forming the lower member of the feeding clamp. l? 9 is a detail sectional view showing particularly the arrangement in cross section of cuttingblades, the holddown, and the feeding clamp. And Fig. '10 is a detail plan view of the clevis.

Similar indices denote like parts throughout the several views.

In order that the construction and the operation of my invention may be more readily understood and appreciated I will now take up a detail (ltifivllptlfili thereof, in which I will set forth the invention as briefly and as comprehensivcly as I may.

Referring now to the drawings in detail: letters A and I3 denote the two end members forming the frame of my machine. Said members are connected, near their central portions, by the fixed table C, which extends forward any desired distance required to support the material to be operated upon by the machine. The for 'ard edge of the table (l tern'iii'iates short. of the forward projections of the end members, terminating in a seat for the fixed blade I! over which moves the sheets of n'iatcrial D to be cut by the machine.

Letter E designates the movable or upper cutting'blade which is disposed at an angle, as in Fig. 2, in order to form a shearing contact with the fixed blade F. The blade. E is secured to the lower edge of the movable cross-head (it which latter is mounted to slide up and down' carried at each end in suitable guide-ways formed vertically in the end members A. and l).

hlounted across in the upper portions of the members A and B are the two rockingshafts H and I. Secured on shaft II, near each end thereof, are the two pitmen 7i and h; and in like manner secured on shaft I, near each end thereof, are the two pitmen i and i. Indiees TI and IT denote the links which are pivoted at their upper ends to said pitmen It and 71., res-msctivcly, and with their lower ends pivoted to the hold down J. Said holddown J is located parallel with and practically in contact with the forward face of the blade E, but its lower edge is adapted to contact with the rear edge of the surface of the table C or the lower blade F. Parts of the lower edge of the holddown J are cut away thereby forminn; a plurality of feet y, as indicated in Fig. 2.

Extending across through and between the lower portions of the end members is the main-shaft K. Mounted on shaft K and located near each member A and B are the eccentrics L and L, respectively, which are identical with each other and by which the cross-head G is moved up and down with each rotation of the shaft K thereby carrying the blade E in shearing contact with the blade F. Also mounted on said shaft K is the eccentric-cam K: with a cam-channel formed in one face thereof in which operates the roller of the cam-arm 7c, the latter being pivoted near its center to the bracket 76. Connecting the cam-arm 7; and the pitman 2' is the rod V. Also secured on shaft K, outside the end member B, is the cam M, in the cam-face of which operates the roller of the arm m whose central portion is pivoted to the member B as indicated. Connecting arm on with the finger h is the rod WV, for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

Mounted on the central portion of shaft K is, the eccentric N towhich is attached the connecting-rod a. The rear end of said rod n is pivoted to the clevis O, as shown in Fig. 10.

Rotatably mounted across underneath the rear portion of the table C is the shaft P. Secured in the central portion of shaft P is the block Q. Secured at one end of the block Q, and extending downward therefrom is the curved finger R which passes through the clevis O, in which latter it is adjustably secured. 1

Extending upward from each end of the shaft P are the fingers S and S. Pivoted to the upper ends of the fingers S and S are the connecting-rods T and T, respectively, the rear ends of which are pivoted to the eyepieces t and t, the said eye-pieces being attached to the guide-blocks U and U, respectively. Said guide-blocks U and U are formed identical with each other, being formed as shown in Fig. 6, and each has a bifurcated head on its lower face which are adapted to slide in corresponding slots formed in the surface of the table in such manner as to allow said guide-blocks to move forward and backward only, for the purposes hereinafter appearing.

Numeral 1 denotes the upper clamping member of the feeding mechanism, same being formed of a portion of T-iron inverted, and with the end portions of the stem extending out farther than the body thereby forming lugs which are adapted to slide up and down in the vertical slots formed in the guide-blocks U and U, as shown in Fig. 9.

Pivotally connecting the pitmen i and t" with the upper clamp member 1 are the adjustable rods 00 and y by which the upper clamp member may be raised and lowered at the proper time.

Rigidly connecting the guide-blocks U and U is the plate 2 which forms the lower clamping member, and which is adapted to rest fiat and slide on the surface of the table C, said plate 2 being formed tapering from the forward edge to its rear edge as indi cated in Fig. 8.

Formed in the rear edge of the member 1 are a plurality of crescent-shaped notches a to receive each one of the feet 7' of the holddown, thereby allowing the member 1 to come even with the blades at the same time the feet of the holddown are on the table C. And in like manner the member 2 is provided in its rear edge with crescent-- shaped notches b which are of same size as are said notches a with which they register, and they are for the same purpose as are said notches 0;.

In order that the pressure of the holddown J may be adjustable the rod TV is made adjustable in length by means of the turnbuckle 3; and in like manner the clampmember 1 is made adjustable by means of the turnbuckle 4 by means of which the length of the rod V may be changed as desired. The rod a is made adjustable in length by means of the turnbuckle 5.

The member 1 is provided at each end thereof with a projecting portion 1 (as in Fig. 7 forming guides therefor which operate in suitable slots in the guide-blocks.

By means of the curved finger R the position of the clevis O thereon may be changed, in order to change the length of the slide of the cam without changing the relative position or the operation of the clamp, as the clevis is at all times the same distance from the center of shaft K regardless of its position on the finger R, or of the clevis O thereon.

The various cams, eccentrics, and other movable parts are so timed and located that the several operations will be substantially as follows: The main shaft K is geared to revolve continuously'at a constant rate of speed, the power being applied to the pulley Y, and through gear Z. As the shaft K revolves the eccentrics L and L, which .are coupled to the cross-head G, will cause the blade E to move up and down in shearing contact wit-h the fixed-blade F. The eccentric-cam M is so timed as to cause the holddown J to raise and lower slightly in advance of the blade E, in other words,-the movements of the holddown J will always be a little prior to the movements of the blade E, in order that the feet will press the material D tightly against the surface of the table immediately before the blade comes into contact wit-h the material, thereby accomplishing the main function of the hold down. As the shaft K revolves the eccentric N will move the rod 7% forward and backward, thereby moving the curved finger R forward and backward, and causing the fingers S and S to rock backward and forward and the shaft P is rotated or rocked by the finger E. The movements of the lingers S and S will, manifestly, move the guide-blocks U and U forward and backward in their channels in the table, and the movements of said guide-blocks will of course cause the clamping members 1 and 2 to be moved forward and backward therewith. The rear edge of member 1 is adapted to be moved rearward, at certain times, even with the cutting edge of the blade F, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 9. In order that said movement may be possible during the time the feet j (Fig. 2) are down the rear edge of member 1 is provided with notches ct (Fig. t). There being one of said notches at opposite each foot 7', each notch a being adapted to stride a foot j as in Fig. 9. In addition to the forward and backward movements of the member 1 it also is adapted to have an up and down movement, this being made possible by reason of the eccentric-cam 7:: operating the rod V which in turn rotates shaft I and causes the links :0 and y to raise and lower the member 1 with each rotation of shaft K and independent of the forward and backward movements of member 1, the eccentric-cam, however, being so timed as to cause member 1 to be raised during the forward movement thereof and to be lowered during its rearward feeding movements. Now as the material D is being cut, that is while the blade E is moving down, the holddown J is pressing the material D tightly against the face of the table, and the edge of the blade F, and at the same time the clamp or feed (that is members 1 and 2) is moving away from the blades, during which time members 1 and 2 are spaced apart to their limit, the member 1 being raised, thereby preventing the clamp from engaging the material and placing the clamp in position for a new bite or grip. Just as soon as the blades complete the out then the blade E starts to move upward, at the same time the member 1 is forced down causing the members 1 and 2 to engage the material D, and at the same time the holddown starts upward. As the blade E and the holddown reach their limits of upward movements the clamp, that is members land 2, which has been moving rearward, that .is toward the blades, will have reached its rearward limit of movement carrying the material rearward, projecting it through between the blades there to be cut the predetermined length or width, and just as the material is about to be released by the clamp it will be engaged by the holddown and held in the proper position until it has been cut to the desired length.

The length or width of the material cut by the machine is governed by the position of the clevis 0 upon the curved finger R which is made adjustable so that the higher the clevis secured upon finger R the longer will be the stroke of the clamp, and con vcrsely, the lower the clevis is placed the shorter will be the stroke of the clamp. It of course being understood that the length of the stroke given the clamp determines the length or width of the material cut by the blade. The position of the stroke may be changed to some extent by means of the turnbuckle 5, by which the rod n is lengthened or shortened. The thickness of the material to be operated on is accounted for by means of the turnbuckles 3 and t, which determine the distance the holddown and the member 1 may be moved.

From the above it will be observed that the operation of the machine will be purely automatic in its several operations, the only manual labor required being to deliver the sheets of material on the table in position to be engaged by the feeding clamp.

I desire that it be understood that various changes may be made in the several details of construction from that herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and the various parts and the operations may be variously changed in order to meet varying conditions.

I claim I- 1. An automatic feed for power shears comprising in combinatimi, a clamp conr prising an upper and a lower member for engaging material above and below, the lower member of said clamp being formed tapering to an edge in the rear in order that it may rest flat on the surface of the table and not present an obstruction to the material being fed through the machine, guide-blocks secured to each end of said lower member, means for slidably mounting said guideblocks, the upper clamping member being T-shaped in cross-sectiom same being in vertcd, the ends of the upper member being mounted to slide up and down in slots formed in said guide-blocks, means for moving said upper and lower clamping members toward and away from each other. and means for advancing the material during the time said upper and lower members are spaced apart, all substantially as shown and described.

2. An automatic feed for power shears, comprising in combination with a frame carrying a vertically moving cutting blade, a clamp comprising the upper member 1 and the lower member 2 for engaging material tlwrebctwecn and then carrying the material forward a predetermined distance, the member 2 being adapted to rest flat on the table of the machine and to move forward and lmcki'vard thereon. same being formed tapering to an edge in the rear in order that it will slide under the forward edge of the material when member 2 is moving rearward, a guide block rigidly secured to each end of member 2, the member 1 having its ends slidably mounted in grooves in said guide-blocks, means for moving, said members toward and away from each other, and means for swinging said guide-block forward and backward carrying" the members 1 and 2 therewith, and means for forcing the cutting blade downward to sever the material during "the time the guide-blocks are at the forward limits of movement, all substantially as shown and described.

An automatic feed for power shears, comprising in combination with the frame having a table with a horizontal surface and a vertically movable blade for severing material, the upper clamping member 1 formed T-shapein cross section, the head being downward, a holddown having a plurality of feet 7', there being a crescent shaped notch for each of said feet formed in the edge of member 1, a lower clamping member adapted to slide on the surface of the table, same being formed tapering to an edge at the rear to slide under the forward edge of the material, a pair of guide blocks to which the lower member is secured, same having vertical guide-ways therein in which operate the upper clamping member, means for moving the clamping members forward and backward together, means for moving the clamping members toward and away from each other, means for causing the holddown to hold the material while the clamping members are moving rearward, and means for operating the blade to cut the material while the clamping members are at their forward limits of movements, all substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES A. BERTSCH.

Witnesses H. C. GI-IAMPE, L. H. BERTSOI-L Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

